off-street parking

Hi, everyone --

Thanks to the combined efforts of our group, Busby's management, the Chamber of Commerce, and Councilman LaBonge's office, we have more/safer options for parking in our area than we did just a few months ago. So, as "parking czar" for the MMAC, I'd like to know -- how many of you have taken advantage of the new opportunities? What have your experiences been? I know monthly parking fees can be pricey -- do you think it's worth the cost? Let us know what you think!

Liz

LAT article on 911 and cell phones

Saw this item in the Los Angeles Times.

The reporters studied the challenges of the 911 system having to field so many calls many of which come from cell phones.

10pm-midnight, August 10, 2007 Patrol Report

There were six of us on foot tonight in three teams.

We reported to 311 three street lights that were dark on Cochran and a couple on Hauser.

A bit before 11pm, we came across three people on Cloverdale who were wondering who we were with the yellow jackets. When we explained we were with the volunteer safety patrol, they proceeded to tell us about their neighbor in their apartment building who is using drugs and the parade of people going in and out of that apartment. They had called the police about it and were awaiting a response. Eric called one of his officer contacts and left a message.

They also told us about their Miracle Mile networking group on Yahoo Groups called, The Mile.

A little before midnight hundreds of bicycles streamed down Wilshire Blvd going westbound some of them running red lights. We were told that periodically on Friday nights there is a mass ride of bicyclists. We soon heard a lot of screaming and yelling coming from the intersection of Cochran and Wilshire. We went to investigate and saw that a motorist and bicyclist had collided and the two in the vehicle were engaged in a shouting match with half a dozen bicyclists.

Paramedics were called and the unit on Cochran and 3rd were soon on the scene. The rider appeared to be shaken up but was conscious as the paramedics checked him out. The LAPD had not yet arrived by the time I called it a night.

Feel free to add to this report of the events of the evening.

Smash up on 6th

Hi y'all.
I was wondering if anyone happened to see a car swerving around 6th between Ridgeley and Burnside between 8PM Sunday night (7/30/07) and 8AM monday morning (7/31/07). My car was smashed in a hit and run. If anyone has any info please let me know. Nobody was hurt but I'm really bummed out, and my car needs some serious TLC. Thanks. Erin

Things to watch for

Talked with a reserve police officer at my church this Sunday morning and shared with him about our patrol efforts. His suggestions:

(1) definitely let the local LAPD unit know we are out there
(2) trust your instincts about who doesn't seem to belong in the neighborhood
(3) be aware of people or cars who seem to checking out things, people at night who belong in the neighborhood are usually quite purposeful about getting to where they plan to be
(4) be alert to people following cars into underground parking - once in an underground parking lot, a car thief can easily break into several cars and not be observed by anyone

SATURDAY JULY 14, 2007

The clear skies pushed the heat upward, leaving a cool tinge on my cheeks. Detective Cary and I entered establishment El Toro Cantina. Inside patrons occupied sporadic tables. Cary approached a tall husky gentleman and whispered the password.

The worker nodded and pointed us outside. We were quickly armed with flashlights and proceeded north on Detroit where we saw suspicious activity #1: a dirty paper bag.

We dismissed it and marched systematically until we reached Cochran. Detective Cary's experience spied the numerous failed streetlights. Coincidence or ploy? Having drilled the same scenario repeatedly, Detective Cary and I proceeded with military precision. Pushing forward, we scanned the area with our lights. "Clear!" declared the Detective. We noted this on our notepad and continued.

2301hrs: Southbound on Dunsmuir. I spotted suspicious activity #2. Lights flickered at the side of a building. Cary and I set up satellite outposts and observed a man with a flashlight; rummaging for recyclables. We regrouped and continued on our beat.

2321hrs: Movement in a dark alleyway. Further inspection revealed the culprits; two rats fighting over garbage.

2345hrs: Secret agent Abby called to check in. She had successfully perpetrated a high priority target and obtained the lethal weapons deemed mission critical: fried chicken and cake.

We exchanged secret hand signals and agreed to reconvene in precisely one month.

END OF TRANSMISSION>>>

Patrol of July 13, 10pm - midnight

Warm night with lots of dog walkers. El Rey was in session and Busby was busy. We reported to 311 dark street lights: a number of them were out at Cochran and at Hauser.

We were heading home at midnight when a suspicious man walked past Cynthia, Dan and I as we walked north on Cochran. He turned around to follow us and we crossed the street and observed.

Since there was a large number of people still out and about we decided to continue to observe and began calling the police dept and mentioned to people on the streets that there was a suspecious person about and for them to be aware. We observed him for quite a few minutes as he went back and forth along the north side of 6th Street. But we lost him going south on Burnside toward Wilshire. We decided to continue down to Wilshire and go north on Ridgley. The LAPD unit arrived and we described what we observed and they began to drive around to look.

Dan continued north and Cynthia and I went south on Ridgley. We turned east onto Wilshire and I turned to look back and the man was at the corner at the Ralphs and began to follow us east bound on Wilshire. At this point, Cynthia and I were not eager to continue observing and so we sped down Wilshire and headed north onto Burnside when we observed the man in the Smart and Final parking lot heading toward us - was he thinking he could cut us off?

The LAPD vehicle was parked outside the parking lot but the officers were on foot and not in the car. The man saw the car and the gates so he turned away. We saw the officers walking back to their car and we reported what we saw. At that point, Cynthia and I called it a night and we went home leaving the job to the LAPD.

Issues:

(1) How should we handle such matters in the future?

(2) Cell phone communications is spotty in the area for Cingular. When I called 911 the operator said she couldn't hear me very well and I had to repeat my street locations a number of times. Also since she saw my 818 cell phone number on her screen I'm sure that added to the confusion.

(3) Cynthia and Dan also called 911 and some other numbers we have on file and I don't know what their experience was. But obviously one of our calls worked its way through the system as the LAPD was there in about ... 10 minutes?

(4) We should have some coordination with the LAPD Wilshire on the evenings we are out on foot. Perhaps we could have cut down the response time if we had a more direct link to the local unit in the area.

Anything else that Dan and Cynthia would like to add?